(by Julius Coles) I have worked with Africa for nearly 40 years; and as a result, I am often approached by people here in the U.S. who want to help the people of Africa , but feel overwhelmed. It may be the continent's vast size that intimidates, or the depth of some of its [...]
Is Africa the richest continent on the face of the earth, or is it the poorest? Do its economic woes spring from the reign of tyrants or the tyranny of the West? From massive corruption or unfair debts to the IMF? Do Africans see us in the Diaspora as brothers and sisters, or [...]
The year was 1818, and the great king of the Methethwa had just fallen in battle. One of his lieutenants rallied the remnants of his reeling army at a place called Goqkoli Hill. The Methethwa were a branch of the Ngoni speakers of the Bantu people. 1500 years before, they had left West Africa [...]
Shaka and Hannibal are, arguably, the greatest warriors the world has ever seen. Hannibal’s battles are still studied at West Point, and England employed Shaka’s tactics in fighting the First World War. Hannibal was born on the northern rim of Africa, Shaka near its southern tip. Each man greatly furthered policies started by his [...]
There’s a tremendous "brain drain" from Africa and the Caribbean. Skilled professionals, especially in the health field, are streaming to America and Europe. Doctors and nurses, even in countries where the health crisis is staggering, as economies worsen, are coming to the West in droves. Their leaving further harms these economies in a deadly [...]
The Sahara , it is said, is a sea traversed by the ship that is the camel, or rather, the camel caravan. A number of trade routes criss-cross this hot, empty, immense expanse. They connect the cities on the Sahara ’s southern and northern rims. At times a city located at a crossroads of [...]
On the eve of the Second World War, Germany, in 1936, hosted the Olympics, giving Adolf Hitler the chance to put on display what he called his “Supermen of the Aryan Race.” However, at the premier event, the 100 meter dash, African American Jesse Owens came out on top in a stunning victory for [...]
Didn’t you like the film, The Matrix? It seems everyone did? But why? Was it because of the theme: for all we know, life could be a lot different than it seems? Or because it had so many Black actors? Nonetheless, were there hidden messages in the picture specifically aimed at us? Who was [...]
In the Olympics in Mexico City in 1968, African American runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos won the gold and the bronze medals in the 200 meter dash. When they stood on the podium during the playing of the national anthem, they bowed their heads and raised a black gloved fist in protest against [...]
Soon after the establishment of Capetown, in 1652, Europeans made other, rapidly expanding, settlements along the coast of the area that is now the nation of South Africa . The overflow populations, largely Dutch, migrated inland fighting the indigenous peoples oftentimes every step of the way. Diamonds were discovered in the 1870s and gold [...]